Maurice Cranston:

A Preliminary Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom
Humanities Research Center

Creator:

Cranston, Maurice William
1920-1993

Title:

Maurice Cranston
Papers

Dates:

1943-1997

Abstract:

This collection
contains Cranston's typescript and handwritten drafts of monographs, including
those for his three-volume biography of Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
John Locke: A Biography,
Philosphers and Pamphleteers: Political
Theorists of the Enlilghtenment, and
The Romantic Movement, as well as
related correspondence, reviews, and research; offprints and drafts of shorter
articles, including book reviews and essays; drafts and scripts for radio
dialogues and programs; and clipping files. Other papers include literary and
personal correspondence, career-related papers on colloquia and teaching, and
Cranston's thesis.

RLIN Record #:

None

Extent:

77 boxes (32.34 linear
feet)

Language:

Most material in
English, some material in
French and Italian.

Repository:

The University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom
Humanities Research Center

The papers of Maurice Cranston span his
professional career as an author, free-lance reviewer, and professor of
political philosophy. Major works represented in the collection include
Cranston's three-volume biography of Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
John Locke: A Biography, and
Philosophers and Pamphleteers: Political Theorists
of the Enlightenment. The papers are arranged in three series: Series
I. Works & Related Files; Series II. Correspondence; and Series III.
Career-Related & Other Papers.

Series I. Works & Related Files makes up the bulk of the
collection and is divided into Subseries A1. Rousseau Monographs, Subseries A2.
Rousseau Research Files and Shorter Rousseau Works, Subseries B. Other
Monographs, Subseries C. Shorter Works and Subject Files, and Subseries D.
Clipping Files.

Subseries A1. contains typescript and handwritten drafts
of monographs written by Cranston concerning Jean-Jacques Rousseau, including
all three volumes of the Rousseau biography. Also present are some publication
correspondence files and reviews.

Subseries A2. comprises Cranston's
research files related to Rousseau, as well as offprints and drafts of shorter
articles. Most of the research materials are offprints and photocopies of books
and articles by other authors regarding Rousseau and related topics. These are
primarily arranged alphabetically by subject.

The monographs in Subseries
B. reflect Cranston's professional interests in political philosophy.
John Locke: A Biography and
The Romantic Movement are the two works
most extensively represented. Both of these works have multiple files with
research, typescripts and review clippings.

Subseries C. Shorter Works
and Subject Files is the largest segment of the collection. These files are
arranged alphabetically according to subject and contain articles and research
materials. Throughout his career, Cranston wrote numerous book reviews and
essays on a variety of subjects, many of which are gathered here in the form of
typescripts and clippings. He also wrote a number of dialogues for broadcast on
the BBC and other radio programs. A large number of these are present as
drafts, full scripts and offprints. The research materials in the subseries are
primarily in the form of photocopies and offprints, with some handwritten
notes.

Subseries D. contains clipping files of articles by
Cranston.

The correspondence in Series II. is arranged chronologically
and then alphabetically. The dates given are the ones used by Cranston, but the
contents may span a wider date than given. For several date ranges there are
two groups of correspondence that have not been interfiled. Some specific
correspondents may be found in either or both sets of files. Cranston was a
friend of the artist and author Denton Welch, and the files contain
correspondence with Welch's biographer Michael De-La-Noy. Other literary
correspondents include W. H. Auden, Kay Dick, Bonamy Dobrée, Kathleen Farrell,
Francis King, Olivia Manning, Harold and Nigel Nicolson, and Edith Sitwell.
There are many letters from George Feaver, a one-time student of Cranston's and
professor of Political Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. There
are few strictly personal letters in the files, and none from his immediate
family.

Series III. Career-Related & Other Papers includes papers for
various colloquia, correspondence related to teaching, and paperwork. There are
several files of early writings, including Cranston's B. Litt. thesis.